18 September 1931: The "Mukden Incident":Liutiaohu, about 25 miles
from Mukden (now Shenyang), the capital of Manchuria. Japanese soldiers detonate
an explosive on the Japanese-owned Southern Manchurian Railway. Chinese soldiers
retaliate with gunfire. The Japanese Kwantung Army reinforces their troops and
settles the conflict. The Japanese continue N to Mukden, attack the city and win
control the next day. The “Mukden Incident” is the beginning of the Pacific War.

1 June 1937:LtCdr Mori Keisaku (49) (former CO of MINEKAZE) is appointed CO.

7 July 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge (The"First China Incident") Incident:
Hun River, Lukuokiao (Peking), China. Japanese troops at the bridge fire blank cartridges during night maneuvers. Chinese troops fire back. Later, the Japanese discover a soldier missing. They demand entry to the Peking (Beijing) suburb of Wanping to look for him, but the Chinese refuse. The Japanese shell the city and an undeclared war on China begins.

July 1937:Japanese residents in the Yangtze River area are guarded by
the forces of Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Tanimoto Umataro’s (35) 11th Gunboat Division
including ATAMI based in Kiukiang.
29 July 1937:
The Japanese capture the ancient Imperial Chinese capital of Peking (now Beijing).
30 July 1937:
Departs Kure for Shanghai as the new flagship of the 11th Gunboat Division under Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Tanimoto Umataro (35) )(former CO of CHOKAI) , replacing minelayer YAEYAMA.
July-early August 1937:
The 11th Gunboat Division evacuates Japanese civilians from the interior to Shanghai.
13 August 1937: The Second Battle of Shanghai
Shanghai. At 0900, more than 10,000 Japanese troops enter the suburbs. Fighting begins in the Zhabei, Wusong and Jiangwan districts. ATAKA and the 11th Gunboat Division put ashore Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) reinforcements. At 1600, warships of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Hasegawa Kiyoshi’s (31)(former CO of NAGATO) 3rd Fleet in the Huangpu (Whangpoa) and Yangtze Rivers begin bombarding Chinese shore positions.
14 August 1937: "Bloody Saturday":
Shanghai. Flagship USS AUGUSTA (CA-31), carrying Admiral Harry E. Yarnell (former CO of SARATOGA, CV-3), CINC, U.S. Asiatic Fleet, arrives from Tsingtao and anchors in the Huangpu River. That same day, the Chinese Air Force (CAF), under retired Captain (later LtGen) Claire L. Chennault, launches aircraft to attack IJN flagship IZUMO and the Japanese fleet. The CAF mistakenly bombs British cruiser HMS CUMBERLAND, but their bombs fall wide. Two bombs also fall close alongside AUGUSTA, but no one is killed. Other CAF fliers also bomb Shanghai city, killing more than 1,700 civilians and wounding 1800 others.
19 August 1937:
In view of the increasing danger, it is decided to repatriate Shanghai’s Japanese women and children. About 20,000 of the total 30,000 residents are successively returned home.
23 August 1937:
50 km NE of Shanghai. The IJN lands General Matsui Iwane's 3rd, 8th, and 11th Divisions at Chuanshakou, Shizilin, and Baoshan under the cover of the 3rd Fleet's guns. The IJN also makes other large-scale landings of Matsui's troops at Liuhe, Wusong and Chuanshakou.

15 October 1939:LtCdr Yamagamachi Tetsuo (51) is appointed CO.
25 October 1937:
Chinese troops begin withdrawl from parts of Shanghai.
5-12 November 1937: - The Fall of Shanghai:
S of Shanghai. The IJN lands the IJA 10th Army in Jinshanwei, nearly unopposed. On 8 November, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek issues an order for a general retreat. By 12 November, Shanghai is cleared of Chinese troops. On 26 November, the Chinese Army fall backs to the capital of Nanjing (Nanking); thus the battle for Shanghai lasted three months.

15 November 1939:ATAMI is attached to the renamed Third Fleet, 11
Squadron.
1 December 1937:
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kondo Eijiro (36)(former CO of KAGA) is appointed CO of the 11th Gunboat Division.